A Breath of Snow and Ashes

A Breath of Snow and Ashes continues the saga of 18th-century Scotsman Jamie Fraser and his 20th-century, time-traveling wife, Claire. The year is 1772, and the rift between Britain and its American colonies has put a frightening word into the minds of all concerned: revolution. In the backwoods of North Carolina, violence has already reared its ugly head, as cabins have been burned to the ground. To preserve the colony for King George III, the governor pleads with Jamie to bring the people together and restore peace. But Jamie has the burden of knowing that war cannot be avoided.

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Publisher's Summary

A worldwide sensation with more than 12 million copies in print, Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series has produced #1 best-selling novels and earned a fiercely devoted fan base. Another spellbinding entry in the series, A Breath of Snow and Ashes continues the saga of 18th-century Scotsman Jamie Fraser and his 20th-century, time-traveling wife, Claire. The year is 1772, and the rift between Britain and its American colonies has put a frightening word into the minds of all concerned: revolution. In the backwoods of North Carolina, violence has already reared its ugly head, as cabins have been burned to the ground. To preserve the colony for King George III, the governor pleads with Jamie to bring the people together and restore peace. But Jamie has the privilege, although some might call it a burden, of knowing that war cannot be avoided. Claire has told him that the colonies will unite and rebel, and the result will be independence, with all British loyalists either dead or exiled. And there is an additional problem. Claire has discovered a newspaper clipping from 1776 that tells of Jamie’s death. With its epic scope, historical details, and sweeping romance, A Breath of Snow and Ashes is everything Gabaldon’s fans love and more.

Davina Porter's narration is perfect -- again. She is the voice of Claire for me. When I read the words, I hear Davina Porter. Plus, she handles all the other characters incredibly well, with a superb ability to set them apart and to hold their distinctions from beginning to end and from book to book.

Once again, I'm at the end of 57 hours of listening and would be just fine if there were more. I marvel at Diana Gabaldon's ability to write with quality and in quantity. If you're a fan, this is one of the most terrific books in the series. If you've not become a fan yet, start at the beginning. The characters are complex and getting the full measure of their lives is one of the most splendid things about this series.

Fortunately the author and her agent have negotiated a change in her copyright contract to allow the sale of the unabridged version. Part of the agreement is that the abridged must remain available but that hopefully won't tempt anyone with a modest amount of good sense. After all how can you modify a book so large into such a small recording? (not without mangling it bad) The author is well known to dislike the abridged versions of her novels and is anxious that the remaining one, The Fiery Cross, be available in unabridged form around Nov. of 2011. As always I recommend reading the novels in order to get full benefit of the story of Claire and Jamie: Outlander, Dragonfly in Amber, Voyager, Drums of Autumn, Fiery Cross, A Breath of Snow and Ashes, and Echo in the Bone. Each is technically self standing but each builds on its predecessors and you will be very happy to discover older characters and evens. So if you haven't read any of the Outlander series yet do start with the first, Outlander. You'll be glad you did. A Breath of Snow and Ashes is worth waiting for anyway. :)

A great read to be sure! I read this when it was first released. And I was so disappointed when I found it was not offered as unabridged. Davina Porter's voice has certainly become Clair's so no other will suffice. When I saw that it is now available it took me about 5 seconds to click the download button. It's so easy to slip back to the 17th century when listening.

I love this series of books. I love this narrator. I love that all the books in the series are now available on Audible (there were two in the middle that previously weren't). The Outlander series is what Audible is all about.

The series is the story of a woman who accidentally travels 200 years back in time and meets the love of her life. Whenever I explain this premise to people I get raised eyebrows, but the truth is that the books are more historical fiction than sci fi/fantasy. I read an interview with the author once in which she said she set out to write historical fiction, but just couldn't get into the mindset of an 18th century woman so devised the time travel in order to place a modern woman in the period she wanted to write about. That decision made the books even more interesting. All of the main characters are relatable and fleshed-out. The history is meticulously researched. The conversations, love stories, intrigue, etc feel organic. The descriptions of Scotland - both modern and historical - are amazing and make me love the country even though I've never been. I really have almost no criticisms of the writing.

Meanwhile, Davina Porter is one of the best narrators I've encountered in an audiobook. (Thank you, thank you to the narrator and audiobook producers or whoever arranged for the same narrator to read the whole series so far.) She manages to have a completely different voice for each main character and to my untrained ear moves effortlessly from one accent to another as the story dictates. Her American accent is not perfect, but it's still very good. She has a great cadence, sounds like she's read the book 100 times prior to narrating, and never stumbles over what must be incredibly difficult Gaelic words... (in fact, a friend of mine who is reading the whole series on paper calls me occasionally to have me pronounce the Gaelic words for her).

Clearly, these are some of my favorite all time audiobooks. Despite their length, I'm on my third time through the series. Speaking of length, all the books in the series are pretty long, but still only one credit so if you have an Audible subscription, they are great deals. In short, buy the books, you won't regret it.

I'm thrilled that Audible got the rights to the unabridged version of this, I hope the other will follow soon. Davina Porter is perfect in her narration. She pronounces the words perfectly, and carries the voice changes beautifully. It is a very long book I believe 57 hours, however it flew by because it was written and narrated perfectly. Thanks Audible.

some parts were tedious to listen to, so maybe I would have stuck closer to the plot

Have you listened to any of Davina Porter’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

this compares very well to her other performances

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

choices and challenges

Any additional comments?

I love historical fiction, and having lived in Fayetteville NC for a time, I remembered some of the places mentioned in the book, especially the slave auction post that is still standing in the old downtown, as a reminder of that horrible part of US history. Once again, Diana Gabaldon hooked me till the end, I have just ordered book number 7.

I loved this book. I was so happy when Briana and Roger went through the stones to re-unite with Claire and Jamie. What a wonderful family saga. I have to say that Davina Porter does an incredible job reading these books. She brings them alive for me and how she manages to do all the accents and voices I don't know. I only know she does and it's wonderful. I'm reading Echo in the Bone and am sad that temporarily, until Ms. Gabaldon comes out with another book, I will be Fraser-less and MacKenzie-less. Something to look forward to.

This is an exceptional series. It is remarkable that Diana Gabaldon has maintained the writing quality in each book, not to mention throughout the series. While the last book was a minor step-down (a 4 v. 5), this one rebounds to the amazing level of prior books. Excellent book, excellent performance ~ !

Maybe because their son in-law is a minister now, Claire and Jamie has a lot less tenderness for each other? Maybe as they get older, they are starting to have a different level of passion for one another, instead of brute sex? Maybe Diana Gabaldon got some advise from her male friends that she should focus more on the history than on the love making?

Whatever the case may be, the author had a mission in mind when completing "A Breath of Snow and Ashes." I really had a difficult time at finishing the previous book. I almost had enough with Outlander altogether, but with the coaching from my friends, they told me that #6 would be better. They were right and I am happy that I am listening to them. I thought that "A Breath of Snow and Ashes" thus far is second best to "Voyager." Very solid!

As I get further into the Outlander series, I notice a progression in my discussions with my friends that already caught up. We no longer talk about time travel so much anymore, but we talk a lot more of the time frame. In most novels, the author spans their character's life rapidly and by the end of their books, the main character is either old and dead or old and wheeling off into the sunset.

It's vastly different with Claire, Brianna and Jamie. Diana Gabaldon aged them gradually, as in day by day. For example, when you look in the mirror, many of us don't see ourselves aging until we see the imperfections on our bodies. The style that Gabaldon choose to write is almost like reality. We don't notice the flaws of the characters because they don't leap through years unlike in other stories.

As I get caught up with the series, I hope that my reviews are being more insightful. I know that by discussing to my real life friends and asking questions about the Fraser Family, they too have new ideas about the stone that they haven't thought before.

I really hope they time travel again. I really miss the parallel worlds. That is my biggest peeve in the later parts of Outlander. Diana Gabaldon focuses too much on the upcoming war and homestead, that the stone is another pebble on the beach.

Yesyesyes!! Finally the last book ofthe voyager series with Davina Porters beautiful voice.

Thank you Audible! Its been worthwhile waiting.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Susan

Taunton, United Kingdom

1/21/13

Overall

"At last"

It's been a long wait for audible uk to release this. Having listened to and loved the first five of the outlander series I did not want to listen to this in an abridged version with another reader. Davina Porter is the voice of the Frasers. Now I can complete the series, I'm very happy, thank you.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Joy Fancutt-Burger

St. Albans, United Kingdom

9/26/13

Overall

Performance

Story

"Completely Enthralling"

This is the way history should be taught, the story line is strong and made me feel a part of the family. I couldn't find enough time to listen so I went without sleep to do so. What a story ... Wonderful!!

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

J M Wheeler

4/10/13

Overall

"A breath of Snow and Ashes"

This book held me in its spell from start to finnish. Diana Gabaldon's ability to tell a story to hold the readers attention from cover to cover is really amazing .

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Suzie

brunswick west, Australia

4/7/13

Overall

"At last! Book 6 narrated by Davina Porter"

I've been eagerly waiting for the full series of outlander books to become available because Davina Porter's narration is simply superb! Ms Porter's skill in reproducing the various accents in particular is inspired and really gives the individual characters lives of their own. Such a pleasure to listen to, and a series I return to again and again. Thank you Davina! I just love this book.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Corinne

Rickenbach Sulz, Switzerland

12/2/13

Overall

Performance

Story

"Keep on listening"

If you could sum up A Breath of Snow and Ashes in three words, what would they be?

Before the Revolution

Who was your favorite character and why?

Claire is still My favorit charater. I like reading about her treating patients and her love for Jamie

What about Davina Porter’s performance did you like?

The way she uses the different accents to bring the characters into life.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When they Cut Roger off from the tree when he was hanged.

0 of 1 people found this review helpful

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